Town Hall meeting to address safety concerns in El Dorado neighborhood

LANCASTER – The Lancaster Neighborhood Vitalization Commission (LNVC)  and the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station will team up to host a Town Hall Meeting for residents of the El Dorado neighborhood and surrounding area on Thursday, May 24, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m., at El Dorado Elementary School, located at 361 East Pondera in Lancaster.

Captain Bob Jonsen of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station, members of the Lancaster City Council and the LNVC, representatives of various community-based organizations, and members of the Safer Stronger Neighborhoods Committee will be on hand to answer questions and address safety and community service issues affecting the neighborhood.

All residents of the El Dorado neighborhood, which encompasses the area from Avenue J to Lancaster Boulevard and from Division Street to Challenger Way, are encouraged to attend.

“Our aggressive approach to combating crime in recent years has led to crime reduction of over 40% in the City of Lancaster,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris in a City news release. “This success is due in large part to the integral role that citizens and community groups have played in recognizing and reporting crime and suspicious activity. This event offers a forum for two-way communication with the El Dorado community, allowing public safety officials to provide them with essential information on community resources and crime prevention while also giving residents an opportunity to share and discuss any safety concerns affecting their neighborhood.”

The Town Hall event will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a resource fair to provide attendees with information ranging from health resources and emergency preparedness to Neighborhood Impact homes and employment development opportunities. Children’s activities will also be provided to allow parents to attend the meeting. These activities will include a barbeque, bicycle safety, emergency preparedness and neighborhood safety sessions. The Town Hall meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

“The success of the City’s and Sheriff’s Department’s efforts to reduce crime have made Lancaster neighborhoods significantly safer. Now, we are taking the next step to build stronger communities within those neighborhoods,” said Steven Derryberry, LNVC Chair. “Our goal is to empower residents to effect positive change in their neighborhoods by introducing them to the many valuable resources available to them, such as community-based organizations, Neighborhood Impact and Wellness Homes, and the Uniting Neighbors in a Team Effort (UNITE) Lancaster Program.”

Attendees will also receive information on the 2012 UNITE Lancaster Program, which provides residents with a forum to propose neighborhood improvement projects and apply for funding and resources to carry out those projects.

“To continue our positive momentum in fighting crime and building stronger neighborhoods, we must continue to engage and involve residents,” said Parris. “The information residents provide at community forums such as this are absolutely invaluable in our ongoing quest to eliminate crime in our community. We want to hear your needs and concerns, and we want to work hand-in-hand with the neighborhood to address them. I strongly encourage all El Dorado residents to join us for this event.”

For more information, contact Safer Stronger Neighborhoods Committee Chair Patti Garibay at 661-723-6072 or pgaribay@cityoflancasterca.org.

(Information via press release from the City of Lancaster.)

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